Machine for cutting, folding, and winding strips of flexible material.



No. 764,328. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904 A. L. ADAMS.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND WINDING STRIPS OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1899.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 N0 MODEL.

"HIIHHIH I INVENTOR- All, flay.

v WLTNEssE #w. 00% 11 Q. 71

No. 764,328. PATENTED JULY 5, 19 04. A. L. ADAMS.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND WINDING STRIPS 0P FLEXIBLE MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31. 1899.

N0.MODEL.

INVENTOR 4 SHBETS-SHBET 2 WITNESSES.

JWOEWM No. 764,328. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904 A. L. ADAMS. MACHINE FORCUTTING, FOLDING, AND WINDING STRIPS 0P FLEXIBLE MATERIAL. APPLIUATIONFILED JULY a1, 1809.

4 SHBETS--S'HBET 3.

N0 MODEL.

HgVENTOR r d f. 0441/5.

No. 764,328. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

A. L. ADAMS. MACHINE POR'GUTTING, FOLDING, AND WINDING STRIPS 0FFLEXIBLE MATERIAL.

N0 MODE-1h APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1899.

. 4 $HEETS-SHEET 4. a, F U5 j/f Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAHAM L. ADAMS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICU'IT.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND WINDING STRIPS F FLEXIBLE MATERIAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,328, dated July 5,1904.

Application filed July 81,1899. Serial No. 725,653. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beiit known that I, ABRAHAM L. ADAMS, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in thecounty of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Machines for Cutting, Folding,and WindingStrips of Flexible Material, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in a machine forautomatically cutting, folding, and winding strips of flexible material,being an improvement on machines for which Letters Patent were grantedto George E. Hawes and myself April 20, 1897, No. 581,015, and November30, 1897, No. 594,586; and it consists in certain details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter to be more fullyset forth.

To enable others to understand my invention, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a broken sideelevation of the machine and a sectional view of the driving-machinewith the tight and loose pulleys removed. therefrom. Fig. 2 is a brokenupper plan view of the machine and a broken view of thespool-arbor-carrying frame and side supports for the interlining-striprolls. Fig. 3 is a broken central sectional view of the machine with thesewing-machine and driving-pulley for the spool-arbor removed. Fig. A isa detail side elevation of a set of adjustable cutters adapted to cutthree strips and broken view of their arbors. Fig. 5 is a detail upperplan view of the three-strip adjustable cutters shown at Fig. 4, also abroken view of a piece of cloth partially severed into three strips,together with interlining strips overlying such severed strips, a stripseparatorand former, a folder-roll for turning over and creasing theedges of the strips preparatory to such strips entering theironingrolls. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View of the cutter-carryingarbor through a a of Fig. 4 and end elevation of the adjustable collarfor one of the upper cutters. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the reverseside of the adjustable collar shown at Fig. 6 and sectional view of thecutter-arbor and collar adjusting screws through line 7) I) of Fig. 5.Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation of a diagram of the adjustablecutters, tension-rod, ironingrolls, and broken view of a section of thecloth and strip being acted on. Fig. 9 is a detail front elevation ofone of the lower adjustable cutters and sectional view of its arbor.Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of a gage or blocking adapted toset the lower adjustable cutters a pre determined distance apart. Fig.11 is .a detail side elevation of the strip separator and folder shownat Fig. 5. Fig. 12 is a detail broken view of the collapsiblespool-arbor. Fig. 13 is a detail side elevation of such arbor and abroken view of its swinging frame and driving-pullo v. Fig. 1 1 is adetail end View of said spool-arbor. Fig. 15 is a detail broken sectionof one of the side frames for carrying the spool-arbor mechanism and abroken view of the spool-arbor driver rotatably mounted in said sectionof the frame. Fig. 16 is adetail view of the spool-arbor-locking rod, abroken section of the opposite arm of the arbor-carrying frame, and aspindle for supporting the forward end of said arbor. Fig. 17 is adetail side elevation of the cloth tension-guide, having a wire tensionfor the edges of the cloth extending rearward of such tension-guide anda guide and tension for the interlining strip overlying such clothtensionguide. Fig. 18 is a broken detail sectional upper plan view ofthe tension-bars and guideplate for the interlining strips. Fig. 19 is adetail sectional view of the tension-bars and guide-plate for theinterliningstrips through line 0 c of Fig. 18. -Fig. 20 is a detailbroken plan and side elevation of the cloth tensionguide. Fig. 21 is abroken detail perspective view of a folded strip with interlining stripsof gutta-pcrcha. Fig. 22 is a broken detail perspective view of a foldedstrip with a wide interlining strip therein. Fig. 23 is a broken detailview of a folded strip and an interlining strip therein. Fig. 2 1 is abroken detail plan view of the sheet-metal separator and former. Fig. 25is broken detail View of the shipper-rod and trip-lever connectedtherewith and a sectional view of one of the bearings for said rodcarrying a spring catch-pin engaged. with a notch in said rod. Fig. 26is a detail plan view of the swinging frame pivotally supported beneaththe table of the machine, said frame carrying a dri'vingpulley on oneend and a frictional pulley on the other end.

Its construction and operation are as follows: 1 and 1*represent thesideframes of the bed of the machine supported on four standards 3, 3,3", and 3 attached to the base 2. 4 is the driving-shaft, carrying, Fig.2, the tight and loose pulleys 5 and 6. 7 is the driving-gear on saidshaft that transmits motion to the cutter-shafts and ironing-rollsthrough the medium of the gears 8, 9, 10, and 11.

12 and 13 (see, also, Fig. 3) are the upper and lower cutter-shafts,carrying a series of cutter-disks 14 and 15. These shafts are journaledin the side frames of the bed, as shown, and the cutters are adapted tocut the cloth 16 into strips.

The ironing-rolls 17 and 18 are also journaled in the side frames of themachine, and they are made hollow to admit the burners 19 and 20. Oneonly of the pipes 19, leading to the upper burner, is shown broken atFig. 2. 21 and 22, Fig. 1, are small draft-holes in the ends of saidironing-rolls, to which ends the gears 9 and 11 are attached. on theupper roll 17 is regulated by means of the weight 23, which weight isvaried to suit the pressure required. This weight is suspended from thecross-bar 24, attached to the bars 25 and 25*. The opposite ends ofthese bars are secured to the machine-frame by means of the screws 2626. These bars, resting on top of the caps 27 27, combined with theweight 23, will thus maintain the necessary pressure on the stripsbetween the ironing rolls and to exert that pressure just where it ismost needed. For instance,when the spoolarbor, presently to bedescribed, is full the weight will hang central on the cross-bar 24; butwhen, as sometimes happens, spools are being wound on one side of thecenter of the arbor the pressure on the ironing-roll must necessarily begreatest at that point. Therefore the weight 23 is shifted along itssupport in order to exert the desired pressure where most required.

The wide cloth strip 16, adapted to be cut into narrow strips, is firstpiled up on the base 2 of the machine, as shown at Fig. 1, and then fedover the rock-shaft roller 28 of the rock-shaft 28*, which rock-shaft isjournaled in the end of the bed extension 29. This rock-shaft is part ofthe mechanism which operates in connection with the strip forautomatically stopping the machine when the end of the-cloth has reachedthe end of said bed extension. As the mechanism for effecting thisresult is fully shown and described in my former patent, No. 594,586, itwill not be necessary hereto give any further detailed descriptionof-the mechanism than will suffice to show its connection with mypresent The pressure construction, it being observed, however, that thediameter of the rock,- shaft, is considerably increased by the additionoil the roller 28 to facilitate the feeding of the cloth. The arms 30,one only being shown, are connected with this rock-shaft. 31 representsparallel U-shape wires depending from said arms. These wires are adaptedto rest on the cloth strip'until the end of such strip has passed, whenthey will drop through the cross wires or bars 32 and effect thestoppage of the machine in the following manner:

33 is a short arm projecting from one of the side arms 30,-and: carriesthe short rod 34,

having the upturned end 35. A hole (not shown) in this upturned endembraces the wire 36, carrying the collar 37, againstwhich the upturnedend 35 impinges to, actuate the tripping-machine. This wire 36, Figs.2,. 3, and 25, particularly the latter figure, connects with the shorttrip-lever 38, pivotally supported in the outer forked end of the springcatch-pin 39, which pin isoperativelymounted in the bracket 40, attachedto the under side of the bed 1. The opposite end of this pin has thetaper head 39 adapted to engage with the notch 41 in the shipper-rod 42.The said trip-lever also enters acorresponding slot or forked end of thebracket with theinner edge of said lever normally resting on the bottomof this slot, so that when the wire 36 is pulled the bottom of said slotwill operate as a fulcrum for said trip-lever.

43 represents the shipper-fingers that engage the belt 44 and shiftsaidbelt when the shipper-rod isactuated.

45 and 46 are toggle-arms,.onev of which 6 tractile spring 48 willactuate the said rod and shift the driving-belt 44 from the tight pulley6 to the loosepulley 5, and thus bring the machine to a standstill.

49 is a sewing-machine permanentlymounted upon side brackets projectingfrom the bed extension or table 29, whose purpose is to connect anotherstrip of cloth to the. end of the one nearly used up, so thatacontinuous winding can be carried on without breaking. Thissewing-machine is of any construction, whose feed-belt 50 connects withthe pulley 51 on the cross-shaft 52. This shaft, Fig. 3, is journaled inthe frame 53. (See also Fig. 26.) 54 represents short studs projectingfrom said frame and near the inner end thereof, whereby such frame isfulcrumed in the forked box 55 on the under side of, the bed. Thisconstruction enables said shaft-carrying frame to be swung around onitsv pivotal point and bring the frictional pulley 56 on the outer endof such shaft temporarily in contact with the running belt 44 when saidbelt is on the loose pulley 5 for the purpose of transmitting motion tothe sewing-machine. 57 is an arm loosely mounted on the shaft 52 foreffecting this tilting movement of the frame 53, and 58 is a retractilespring attached to the outer end of said arm, whereby the round-facepulley 56 is disengaged from the belt 4.4 to stop the sewing-machine.When, therefore, the end of the cloth has reached the end of the tableand the running mechanism is tripped, as before mentioned, the operatorwill place another pile of cloth upon the base 2 and carry the end ofsaid cloth over the end of the table andlap such end of the new piece tothe old piece and pass such lapped ends through the sewing-machine,which is temporarily run for this purpose to make the joint or splice16. The slack cloth is then drawn back and the cutting and windingmechanism started until this new piece of cloth is nearly used up, whenthe operation of attaching another piece is again performed, and so onindefinitely, so that there will be no interruption or break in thewinding of the spools, which can be made .of any diameter within thecapacity of the machine.

The combined guide and tension device for th e'large cloth stripconsists, as shown in Figs. 17 and 20, of stationary side bars 59 59*,having the cross-wires 6O anchored therein. 61 61 are movable barsrunning on these bars 59 59 and are secured thereto by the setscrews 62.On the ends of these movable bars are the edge-guides for the cloth, andthey consist of the U-shape wires 63 and 63. One end of these wires issecured to the movable bars by the screws 64: 64c. The other end beingfree is sprung under the outer one of the cross-wires 60. Theseedge-guides will give a slight under curve or roll to the edges of thecloth previous to its reaching this outer wire, and thus cause the clothto drawaround said outer cross-wire with sufficient tension to keep thecloth from buckling, twisting, or folding, which would beits naturaltendency, especially where the edges of the cloth. are not true andeven.

The cloth passes through the rotary cutters 14 and 15 and is cut intoindividual strips. From thence, as shown in Fig. 3, these strips passunder the tension-rod 65 and from thence over the folder-roll 66, havingthe collars 66. i g

. ing ends rest on top of the machine-bed, and

67 Figs. 21 and 22, is a broken section of one of these strips havingthe folded edges 67, which folded edges are produced by the said collars66 of the folding-roll. The width of the folded strip is determined bythe space. between the collars 66 of the folder-roll, while the width ofthe turned-overedges is deter mined by the thickness of the saidcollars. The folder-roll is elevated above the cuttingline of thecutters, so that such strip will draw around the said folder-roll anddeliver to the entrance of the ironing-rolls, presently to be described,which entrance is on a lower plane than said roll.

The stationary tension-rod 65, Fig. 3, before mentioned, is secured inthe side frames of the machine and just behind the cutters, so that whenthe several strips are drawn over this rod they are close together andwill be kept, perfectly smooth and free from wrinkles which would bedetrimental to the finished strip and also to such strip spoolingproperly. This feature is of vital importance in cutting and windingplain strips without folding, as it would be impossible to do thissuccessfully without such a device. 68 is a combined separator andformer placed just ahead of the said tension-rod. This device, as shown,is made of sheet metal, Figs. 2. 3, and 4, and is dropped into the sidepieces 69 69 secured to the caps 1" and 1 of the machine-frame, and itis held against the lugs 69 of said side pieces by 7 means of thetension-springs 7 O 7 O and is re- .moved from 1ts seat by s1mplycompresslng said springs. 68, Figs. 3 and 24:, represents lugsproiecting from the rear surface and near the edge of said separator andfolder under side of the lugs 69 to prevent its rising when engaged withthe cloth strips, while the lower corners of the sheet-metal plate, ofwhich the said separator and former is made, will rest on the bosses 4,one of which is shown at Fig. 3 projecting from the side frames, or atleast the plate will be in such close proximity to such bosses that theywill keep the said plate from falling below a certain point.

The object of this separator and former, es-

pecially where wide folds are made, is to begin to shape or partiallyform the strip, or rather to turn up its edges as a preparatory measurebefore such strip reaches the folder.

For this purpose the straight legs 71 are provided to separate thestrips and turn their edges into the slots 72. as shown moreparticularly by the strip 67 at Fig. 24. 73 is a 76 is a metal platesecured to this rod. This plate lies at an angle and rests against thestrips as they pass around the upper ironingroll, so that when thespools are complete and the strips are cut the ends of the strips aroundsaid roll can be easily picked up and attached to the arbor 7 4:.Otherwise they would drop down out of reach and could not be gathered upagain without considerable trouble.

Another feature of my improved machine is the mechanlsmfor interliningthe folded strips with a narrower strip or tape, as shown at Figs. 22and 23. 77 is such interlining strip and is introduced or fed into thefolded strip as follows: 78 is a cabinet open at the front and rear,with the uprights 78 7 8 Figs. 1 and 2, resting on the table or bedextension. 7 8 represents a series of shelves having the short centralpins 7 8, adapted to enter the core of a spool of tape and on which pinssaid spool or spools .22, and 23.

may rotate. This tape is represented as leading from aspool on the lowershelf of the cabinet. While I show but one interlining strip, it will beunderstoood that as many of these strips can be used as there are foldedstrips, or, if necessary, part of the folded strips may be furnishedwith interlining strips and the others Without. These interliningstrips, Fig. 2, overlie the cloth and pass through their own guide andtension device, which overlies the tension device for the cloth.

80 (see also Figs. 1, 17, 18, and 19) is aguide for the interliningstrip and is made of sheet metal and rests on top of the side bars ofthe cloth tension-guide, as shown at Fig. 17. This guide, Fig. 18, hasthe supporting-fingers 80, on which the interlining strips rest. 8Orepresents other fingers between the fingers 80, whose ends are curvedupward to form side guides for the interlining strips. It will beobserved that these upturned fingers are located at the front and rearedge of this guide, thus forming bearing-points a short distance apartwhich will more effectually tend to keep the interlining strip true andeven with its line of travel. The tension for these strips consists ofthe two bars 81 81, which rest on the outer edge of the sheet-metalguide. 82 represents four tension wires anchored in these side bars. Theforward one of these wires has its ends 82 project outside of the sidebars to form a stop against the side frames 1 and 1 of the bed, as shownat Fig. 2. 'These interlining strips pass between the cutters and underthe foot 7 3 of the separator and former, Fig. 24, and from thence arecarried to the folder and inclosed therein, as shown at Figs. 22 and 23.From this point it becomes part and parcel of the folded strip beforementioned. These interlining strips can be made of any material suitablefor the purpose. One of the objects of my improved machine is to make acheap article of commercial tape from a strip of cloth to take the placeof the ordinary knit or Woven tape. For this purpose the folded stripmay be made in any of the forms shown at Figs. 21, While, as beforementioned, the interlining strips can be made of any suitable material,I propose incertain cases to employ strips made of gutta-percha or otherlike material, so that when the folded strips pass through the hearedrolls the interlining strips and the turned-over or folded edges of theouteror folded strips will be firmly cemented together.

.83 of the said frame.

VS herethe folded strip (shown at Fig. 21) is made, it would be cheaperto run the two thin and narrow gutta-percha strips 77 a under the folds67 so that practically there will be but a thin film of gutta-perchabetween these folds. In fact, the gutta-percha strip would in all casesbe just thick enough to cement such folds firmly down onto the main bodyof the folded strip. In Fig. 23, where the folded edges meet at thecenter of the strip, the interlining gutta-percha strip when used couldfill the whole space within the folds just the same as when suchinterlining strip is made of cloth. This feature of cementing the foldsis important where the folded strips are made of soft material, likewool or velvet. It will be understood also that these interliningstrips, of whatever material, can be spliced by means of thesewing-machine just the same as the large cloth strip before mentioned.

The spool or winding arbor frame consists of the two arms 83 83,attached to the rear shaft 84:. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 3.) .85 is a largedriving-pulley mounted on this shaft.

outside of the bed which carries the belt 86 to drive the spool-arborpulley 87 on the arm This pulley is mounted, Figs. 13 and 15, upon theouter projecting end of the arbor-driver 88. This projecting end 88 isadapted to receive said pulley and is in'frictional contact with saiddriver by means of the nut 89 and spring 90.

The spool collapsible arbor herein shown is an improvement on the arborshown in my former patents, which consists, among other featurespresently to be morefully described, in so constructing it that it canreadily be removed and its contents easily discharged there-' from.

The arbor consists of the three parts 74:, 7 1, and 7 41 hinged byscrews 91 to the shell 92, Fig. 12. These several parts when broughttogether, Fig. 14, have the tapered mouth 71", adapted :to engage thecone-shaped end 93, Fig. 16, of the longitudinally-movable shell-rod94:, which rod moves througha hole (not shown) in the arm 83 and its hub83 95 (see also Fig. 13) is a shell on the end of this rod surroundingthe cone-shaped end 93. This shell is adapted to receive the end of theclosed arbor and maintain its closed position while running and yet notinterfere with its rotation. 96 is a handle on the outer end of the rod94: for moving itin or out, as the case may be.

97 is a small locking-rod passing freely through the shell-rod 9 1 andthe circular core 98, Fig. 12, of the arbor.

97 a is the threaded end of the locking-rod, adapted to engage with thethreaded hole 88, Fig. 15, of the arbor-driver. The outer end of theshell 92, Fig. 12, is provided with the notch 92, adapted to pass underthe head of the screw 99, Figs. 13 and 15, projecting from thearbor-driver, so that by means of which 74" represents slits in thethree sections of the arbor to receive the ends of the folded stripspreparatory to winding the spools. When, therefore, the arbor has beenfilled with completed spools, the rod 97 is unscrewed by means of itshandle 100 and such rod withdrawn. Then the rod 9 1 is drawn back, Fig.16, which will be suflicient to liberate the spool-arbor, which arborwill collapse sufficient to permit the spools to readily drop off. Thisfeature will facilitate unloading of the spools all at once, which ismuch better than stripping them off from the arbor one by one. Besidesit enables the winding of strips of any width. i

101 is a pulley mounted on the outer end of the driving-shaft 4, Fig. 2,which pulley transmits motion to the rear shaft 84 through the medium.of the belt 102 and pulley 103, mounted on the latter shaft.

104:, Figs. 1 and 3, is a swinging ratchettoothed lever pivoted to oneof the side frames of the machine for supporting said framearbor 83. 105is apawl in the top rail of this frame, which engages with the teeth ofthe said lever. Y

106 is a link projecting from the swinging frame to embrace theratchet-lever to prevent its falling away.

107 is a counterbalance for the swinging frame.

The arms 83 and 83, Fig. 2, of the swing ing frame have the hubs 83 and83 loosely embracing, the shaft 8 1. On the hub 83 is mounted the collar108, whose cam projection 109, Fig. 3, is adapted to engage with theslotted piece 110, connected to the right-angle lever 111, which leveris pivotally mounted on the stud 112, (see also Fig. 2,) projecting fromthe machine. 113 is a screw which secures said lever to the piece 110,and it serves to adjust the position of the vertical leg of the lever111 with respect to the trip-lever 38. When, therefore, thespooling-arbor is running, the increasing diameter of the spools thereonwill raise the swinging frame notch by notch until the slotted piece110, Fig. 1, rests on the highest point of its cam,when the trip-lever38 will be actuated and the machine brought to a standstill. Thediameter of the spools can be determined by the position of the cam,which may be set accordingly.

In cases where the cloth is cut into three strips of equal width theadjustable cutters (shown at Figs. 4 and 5) are preferably used. 114.115 are the upper cutters, secured to or forming part of the hubs 116and 117, mounted on the arbor 118. 119 is a screw for se curing hub 117and its cutter to its arbor. The lower shaft or arbor 120 carries thetwo cutters 121 122, with their hubs 123 and 12 1,

which are secured to said arbor by screws 125 and 126. 127 (see alsoFigs. 6 and 7) is a collar mounted on the upper arbor and is connectedto the hub of the cutter 115 by means of the three long screws 128,which screws are adapted to enter threaded holes in. the end of the hub1'16. The end of the collar is countersunk to admit these screws, andsuch countersink or recess 129, Fig. 4-, is deep enough to allow thehead of such screw to have free longitudinal play in said recess.Recesses 130, Fig. 7 are provided in the inner end of collar 127 toadmit the ends of three coiled springs, while in the opposite face orouter end of the cuttenhub 116 are corresponding holes to receive theopposite end of such springs. 131 is a set-screw to secure collar 127 tothe arbor. Asbcfore mentioned, this construction of cutter-arbors isintended for cutting a piece of cloth into three equal strips, so thatif the cloth is wide the strips will be correspondingly wide, and ifnarrow the strips will be proportionately narrow. These cutters remainon their arbors, so that when necessary to substitute them for thecutters shown in the other views such cutters and arbors are simplyintroduced in the place of such other cutters.

The width of the strips to be out are of course determined by the widthof the cloth, as before mentioned. Therefore packing or gages of variouslength are always kept at hand that will equal one-third of thewidth ofany piece of cloth that the machine is capable of handling. 132, Fig.10, represents one of these gages, and it consists of a piece of sheetmetal curved to set on the cutter-arbor, as shown at Fig. 1.

In each face of the cutters 121 and 122 and close to the arbor are (seealso Fig. 9)-the shallow recesses 133, adapted to receive the ends ofthe said gage. In setting the cutters the cutter 123 is first set firm]y against the collar 120, (shown dotted at Fig. 1,) which collar re'stsagainst the side of the machine frame or box in which the arbor 120runs. Then the cutter 11 1 is brought against the first-named cutter andfastened to its arbor, and such cutter is held there by an end thread,represented by the screw 118, Fig. 2. Then the gage 132, Fig. 4, isinserted between cutters 121 and 122, and the cutter 121 is crowdedfirmly against the end of such gage and secured to its arbor by screws125. The cutter 115 is then carried into cutting position against thelower cutter 121 by pressing against the col lar 127. This will compressthe intermediate springs 13 1. The said collar is then secured to thearbor by means of the set-screw 131, so that the tension exerted bythese springs will always insure proper cutting engagement of the saidcutters, which a screw or other like positive means could not.

In connection with the cutters above described I employ the combinedseparator and preliminary folder. (Shown at Figs. 5 and 11.) 136 and 187are two bars carrying the crosswires 138. 139 represents adjustableseparators movably secured to one of the crosswires. 140 representsintermediate pieces, also adjustably mounted and secured on said wires,which carry the feet 141 to rest on the top of the three strips, asshown at Fig. 5. This construction serves the same purpose as the deviceshown at Fig. 24 and when used will occupy the same place that suchdevice occupies in the machine. 142 is the folderroll for these cutters,carrying the adjustable collars 143, which collars are set to conform tothe width of the folds 67 of the strips 67. Half-boxes 144 and 145 (seealso Figs 2 and 3) are provided on each of the side frames of themachine to facilitate the insertion or removal of the different kinds offolder-rolls. WVhen plain strips are cut and not folded, the collars areremoved from the folder-roll 142, Fig. 8, and said strips carried oversuch plain roll to the ironing-rolls. This plain roll will serve to keepsuch strips smooth and level.

As before mentioned, the machine is automatically brought to astandstill both by the feed of the cloth and the winding of the spoolsof strips. It is also stopped by hand at the will of the operatorthrough the medium of the hand-lever 143, Figs..1 and 2. This lever ispivotally supported to the under side of the table 29 by means of thescrew 144. The oppositeend of this lever loosely embraces the trip-wire36, and by swinging this lever around so as to engage the fixed collar145 and actuate the trip-lever, before mentioned, the machine isstopped.

146 is a lever pivotally supported to the base 2, whose upper end isconnected with the rod 147 of the toggle-arms 46 for starting themachine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination withrotatable cutters, adapted to cut cloth into individual strips,foldingroll and ironing-rolls, of a combined separator and formerlocated between said cutters and folding-roll and adapted to turn up theedges of said strips as a preliminary step to a complete fold aseffected by said forming-roll, means for maintaining said separator andfolder in operative position, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination withrotatable cutters for severing cloth into strips for the purpose setforth, ironing-rolls, folder-rolls and tensionrod, of a combinedseparator and former located between said tension-rod and folder-roll,projections or legs for keeping the strips a proper distance apart,intermediate and shorter legs having feet to rest on the body of saidstrips, means whereby the edges of forming-roll, means for maintainingsaid separator and former in its operative position and means whereby itis readily removed therefrom, as described and for the purpose setforth.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination withrotatable cutters for severing cloth into strips, folding-rolls,ironingrolls and spool-winding mechanism, of a retainin g device adaptedto rest against the strips as they pass over thesaid ironing-rolls so asto prevent the free ends of said strips dropping down when theconnection between said strips andthe spools of the winding mechanism issevered, for the purpose set forth.

4. In amachine of the character described, the combination of theswinging spool-arborcarrying frame having arms whose hubs are looselyjournaled on the shaft carrying the driving-pulley of the spool-arbor, acam adjustably mounted on one of said hubs, trip mechanism connectedwith said cam whereby the machine is stopped at any predetermineddiameter of the strip-spools on said arbor, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with theironing-rolls, of rearwardly-projecting levers anchored by their forwardends to the machine-frame, said levers resting on the cap of the upperironingroll, a cross-bar connecting the outer ends of said levers, anadjustable weight on said crossbar for effectinga pressure on said upperroll relative to the position of the strip-spools on the winding-arbor,for the purpose set forth.

6. In an automatic machine of the character described and for thepurpose set forth, consisting of cloth feeding and cutting mechanism,tripping mechanism for bringing the machine to a standstill when thecloth has reached a predetermined point, a sewing-machine locatedoutside the feeding-line of said cloth manually controlled, meanssubstantially as shown whereby motion is transmitted to saidsewing-machine when the before-mentioned mechanisms are at rest for thepurpose of attaching another piece of cloth to the end of the piecepreviously engaged by the machine, for the purpose set forth.

7 In a machine of the character described, consisting, in combinationwith the clothguide, of an overlying guide-plate adapted for guidinginterlining-strips of cloth, said plate made of a single piece of metaland provided with upturned fingers to operate as guides for the edges ofsaid strips, combined with an overlying tension device for such strips,for the purpose set forth.

8. The herein-described improvement in rotatable cutters adapted to cutcloth into three individual strips of any predetermined width, saidimprovement consisting of a pair of ar bors placed one above the othereach carrying a pair of cutters, the distance between the cutters on oneof said arborsmaintained by a filling piece or gage, means whereby saidgage is prevented from falling off during the cutting process, one ofthe cutters on the other of said arbors fixed, the other held in cuttingposition by spring tension, a fixed collar ad just-ably secured to thearbor and in close proximity to the hub of the said spring-actuatedcutter, a spring placed between said hub and collar, means Whereby thehub of said cutter and the collar are adjustably connected together, forthe purpose set forth.

9. The combination, With a cloth tensionguide of the characterdescribed, of auxiliary guides projecting from the side bars of saidtension-guide and adapted to engage the edges of the cloth beforeenterlng said tension-guide and exert a pressure on said edges causingthe same to slightly curl under and thus prevent folding or lapping. ofthe cloth over upon itself as it enters the said tension-guide, for thepurpose set forth.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, this 29th day 01" July, A. D. 1899.

ABRAHAM L. ADAMS.

Witnesses:

SIG. DORMITZER, J. W. CAMP.

